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e sure, his ghost hath walked there ever since, for several peoplehave seen him. To be sure it can be nothing but the devil which canput such wicked thoughts into the head of anybody; for certainly it isless wicked to hurt all the world than one's own dear self; and so Ihave heard said by more parsons than one. If your la'ship hath such aviolent aversion, and hates the young gentleman so very bad, that youcan't bear to think of going into bed to him; for to be sure there maybe such antipathies in nature, and one had lieverer touch a toad thanthe flesh of some people."--Sophia had been too much wrapt in contemplation to pay any greatattention to the foregoing excellent discourse of her maid;interrupting her therefore, without making any answer to it, she said,"Honour, I am come to a resolution. I am determined to leave myfather's house this very night; and if you have the friendship for mewhich you have often professed, you will keep me company."--"That Iwill, ma'am, to the world's end," answered Honour; "but I beg yourla'ship to consider the consequence before you undertake any rashaction. Where can your la'ship possibly go?"--"There is," repliedSophia, "a lady of quality in London, a relation of mine, who spentseveral months with my aunt in the country; during all which time shetreated me with great kindness, and expressed so much pleasure in mycompany, that she earnestly desired my aunt to suffer me to go withher to London. As she is a woman of very great note, I shall easilyfind her out, and I make no doubt of being very well and kindlyreceived by her."--"I would not have your la'ship too confident ofthat," cries Honour; "for the first lady I lived with used to invitepeople very earnestly to her house; but if she heard afterwards theywere coming, she used to get out of the way. Besides, though this ladywould be very glad to see your la'ship, as to be sure anybody would beglad to see your la'ship, yet when she hears your la'ship is run awayfrom my master--" "You are mistaken, Honour," says Sophia: "she looksupon the authority of a father in a much lower light than I do; forshe pressed me violently to go to London with her, and when I refusedto go without my father's consent, she laughed me to scorn, called mesilly country girl, and said, I should make a pure loving wife, sinceI could be so dutiful a daughter. So I have no doubt but she will bothreceive me and protect me too, till my father, finding me out of hispower, can be brought to some reason.""Well, but, ma'am," answered Honour, "how doth your la'ship think ofmaking your escape? Where will you get any horses or conveyance? Foras for your own horse, as all the servants know a little how mattersstand between my master and your la'ship, Robin will be hanged beforehe will suffer it to go out of the stable without my master's expressorders." "I intend to escape," said Sophia, "by walking out of thedoors when they are open. I thank Heaven my legs are very able tocarry me. They have supported me many a long evening"--"Yes, to besure," cries Honour, "I will follow your la'ship through the world;but your la'ship had almost as good be alone: for I should not be ableto defend you, if any robbers, or other villains, should meet withyou. Nay, I should be in as horrible a fright as your la'ship; for tobe certain, they would ravish us both. Besides, ma'am, consider howcold the nights are now; we shall be frozen to death."--"A good briskpace," answered Sophia, "will preserve us from the cold; and if youcannot defend me from a villain, Honour, I will defend you; for I willtake a pistol with me. There are two always charged in thehall."--"Dear ma'am, you frighten me more and more," cries Honour: